and they figured in portsmouth and plymouth, england, this would be fairly easy because these ports are surrounded by british ships and british coastal batteries and that kind of thing. and in alexandria, egypt, kind of the same thing because there was a british port with british ports and big guns and british fleet around. there was a different situation because there was only a french flotilla, a french naval base, and the admiralty which is the british naval command radioed, of course in code, to the fleet in gibraltar, and they said this is what you have to do. you have to sail through the night of july 2 and 3rd, and show up at dawn. and give our terms to the french fleet. and the terms were, or were going to be, you were our loyal allies in the fight against the germans, up until just days ago. sail out of the port and join us in the fight against the germans. if you can't do that, give us your ships. we will sell them with the british sailors and give them back to you when the war is over. if you can't do that, say of the friendships that you have here to the caribbean, to martin